Pavement slab



Dec. 18, 1934. P. J. PICCIRILLI 1,984,944

I PAVEMENT SLAB Filed Nov. 15, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

6 5 4 I Fig. 2. 4

INVENTOR. $540M? J. Picc/ri/li.

A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 18, 1934. P. .1. PlCClRlLLl PAVEMENT SLAB Filed Nov. 15, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Pasquale J. Hcc/ril/i.

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 18, 1934. P. .1. PICCIRILLI PAVEMENTv SLAB (S-Sheets-Sheet 5 7 Filed Nov. 15, 1932 INVENTOR. Pasquale J. P/cc/ri/lfl BY @m 9 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 18 1 934 UNITED: "STATES PATENT OFFICE,

I PAVEMENT SLAB Pasquale J. Piccirilli, Crestwood, Y. Application November 15, 1932, Serial No. 642,715

' 1 Claim. (01. 94-11) This invention relates to the construction of pavements andhas for a primary object to contrive an improvement in the method and means employed. in constructing roads,.sidewalks, floors or other pavements.

In accordance with prior practice, the construction of a concrete road involves the preparation of the sub-surface portion, the mixing of the concrete at the scene of operations, and the pro gressive pouring of the concrete-for buildingup the roadway, followed by a considerable period of disuse while the poured concrete is allowed to become properly setand seasoned. In carrying out these operations the road builder must cope with weather and'temperature'conditions beyond human control. These conditions must be men, even assuming the proper mix to be used, (in itself a difficult thing to obtain) in order reasonably to expect a good job.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made of precast concrete paving slabs which may be setupon the sub-surface material of the roadway as the roadway is prepared to receive them and which will be immediately in a usable condition. The slabs can be made in a plant under controlled conditions andunder expert supervision so that first class results are always assured.

It is a further point that the slabs when laid can be individually removed when required. Thus if it becomes necessary after the road is in use to dig underneath it for the installation or repair of sewers, water mains or gas or electric conduits, drilling through the concrete is obviated and the unsightly and usually defective patching of the road is avoided. The repair of the road in case of damage may be accomplished simply by removing the damaged slabs and replacing them with perfect slabs of the same dimensions.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the lower face of the slab is desirably provided with a multiplicity of intersecting reinforcing ribs. These ribs subdivide the slab into a multiplicity of substantially rectangular figures. A vaulted arch is desirably provided in each rectangle, and the ribs between the points of intersection are also desirably arched. The arches provide for a substantial lightening of the slabs and saving of the material while making provision for a construction of the strength desired. The ribs are sunk into the sub-surface material and interlock with it at a multiplicity of points so that the slab is securely anchored against creeping. The sub-surface material fills 'bodiment;

the cavities in the under face of the slab, thus providing extensive contact between the slab and the sub-surface material, The arching of the ribs provides both for lightening of the slab and for facilitating shifting of thesub-surface material 5 from one arch cavity to another so that liability of. buckling or bulging upward in freezing weather is obviated.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure l is a bottom plan view of a concrete slab embodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a portion of a roadconstructed in accordance-with the invention;

Figure 3 is a'fragmentary, perspective View of the slab of Figure 1 on a larger scale than Figure 1, the bottom face of the slab being turned up- 20 ward;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a slab embodying features of the invention, the arches in the reinforcing ribs being omitted in this em- Figure 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of the slab employed in Figures 1 to 3; and

.Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating another form of slab embodying the invention.

The earth 1 is scooped out and graded in preparation for the building of the roadway in any usual manner, and provision is made of a recess 2 for receiving sand 3 and surface slabs 4. Provision is desirably made of edge strips 5 and of shoulder strips 6 of any suitable construction. The slab 4 is desirably made of such a size that it can be conveniently handled, yet large enough to cover a substantial area so that the laying of the surface portion of the roadway can be carried forward rapidly.

The slab 4 is a slab of precast concrete having a multiplicity of longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs 7 and a multiplicity of transversely extending ribs 8 formed on the lower side thereof. The intersecting reinforcing ribs 7 and 8 divide the slab into a multiplicity of rectangular figures. Between the ribs the material is arched both longitudinally and transversely, the surface of a longitudinal arch being indicated at 9 in Figure 3 and the surface of a transverse arch being indicated at 10 in the same figure. Thus a vaulted arch is provided in each of the rectangular figures into which the slab is divided. The provision of these arches greatly reduces the amount of material required for the construction of a slab without the sacrificeof strength. This in turn makes possible a substantial increase in the horizontal dimensions of the slab as compared with the dimensions which would be feasible if the arched construction were not employed. The longitudinally extending ribs 7 are desirably provided with arched recesses 11 between successive transverse ribs 8, and the transversely extending ribs 8 are desirably provided with arched recesses 12 between successive longitudinal ribs '7. The provision of these arches results in a further saving of material without the sacrifice of strength and facilitates the conformation of the sand 3 to the uneven contour of the lower face of the slab since it permits the sand to flow from one arch cavity to another.

The uneven contour of the lower face of the slab provides for an eiiectual interlocking of the slab with the sub-surface material and for extensive engagement with such material since the area of the lower face is substantially greater than the area of the top face of the slab.

In the embodiment of Figure 4 the construction is the same as that of the slab of Figures 1 to 3 and 5 with the exception that the reinforcing ribs are not provided with arched recesses. The corresponding parts of the structure of Figure 4 have accordingly been marked with reference numerals corresponding to those employed in Figures 1 to 3 and 5 with the subscript a added, and no detailed description is deemed necessary.

In Figure 6 disclosure is made of a further form of slab embodying features of the invention. This slab is generally the same as that of Figures 1 to 3 and 5 and differs only in the form of the recesses provided in the reinforcing ribs. The slab 42) is provided with longitudinal ribs 7b and transverse ribs 82). Vaulted arches are provided within the figures bounded by intersecting ribs, the longitudinally extending arches 9b being illustrated. The ribs 71) and 8b are provided with recesses 122) which are of the shape illustrated in Figure 6. The ribs '72) and 8b are thus provided with terminal portions 13 which lie beneath a portion of the sub-surface material and thereby effect a more secure interlocking than is bad with the other constructions illustrated.

I have described what I believe to 'be the best embodiment of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiment shown, but What I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

An article for use in the construction of pavements, consisting of a moulded slab of surfacing material of substantially greater length and width than thickness and having the lower surface thereof provided with a multiplicity of ribs, certain of said ribs being substantially parallel to each other and intersecting others of said ribs also substantially parallel, each of said ribs having a cross-section forming a figure wide at the PASQUALE J. PICCIRILLI. 

